What Is This Inquiry?

Rightfully so, a committee from the House of Reps started an inquiry into the state of live music in Australia. After a year they’ve now issued a report which details the challenges and opportunities in our indsutry.

In this report, there are 20 official recommendations made to the Government. The inquiry and the subsequent recommendations have been influenced by artists, broadcasters, promoters, venues, festivals, service providers, and industry bodies.

What Are The Recommendations?

These are some of the main recommendations made that have the biggest impact on young music goers, that one about fewer Police presence, yeah that one is our fave.

Ticket Price Transparency

This recommendation seeks to amend Consumer Law to enhance transparency of fees and charges within the price of tickets. It also aims to limit extreme ticket price variability caused by dynamic pricing.

Rebate and Voucher System

To incentivise young Australians to get out to more live music and ease the pain of having to fork out money for increasing ticket prices, the inquiry is suggesting the Government give ticket vouchers or a initaite a ticket rebate scheme.

This will be aimed at young audiences, from under 18 to early 30s.

Australian Support Acts

For large international tours to be approved in Australia, they will have to include an Australian support act – a proposal commonly referred to as ‘Michael’s Rule’.

Large Tour Levy

For large international tours, it is being suggested a small levy be added to the ticket price which will be contributed to small venues and grassroots live music initiaives, most notably improving the accessibility of live music venues.

Special Entertainment Precincts

This reccomendation aims to create more precincts acoss Australia that will receive special laws such as extended trading hours, concessional liquor excise rates and differentiated noise complaint processes.

Fewer Police at Gigs

This recommendation seeks to re-evaluate the need for large police presences at live music events and the use of sniffer dogs and strip-searches.

More Aussie Music on Streaming

This one recommends the Government to work with music streaming services such as Spotify & Apple Music to increase the proportion of Australian content that algorithms or automated playlists generate for Australian users.

These are all excellent recommendations that will revitalise our scene. However, in order for the Government to actually enact these recommendations will require continued advocacy from all of us.